Amendment of standard to include fresh, dried or otherwise processed material that is, or is derived from plants, lichens, algae or fungi for the purpose of testing, analysis or research.
The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) must consult with interested parties before issuing or amending (other than of an urgent or minor nature) import health standards (IHSs) in accordance with Section 23 of the Biosecurity Act (1993) and MPI’s consultation policy.
The Plant & Forestry team have recently become aware that some plant products imported into transitional facilities for the purpose of testing, analysis or research are not covered by a valid IHS. As required by section 24D of the Biosecurity Act, a valid IHS must be in place in order for MPI to issue an import permit. This applies to some fresh, dried or otherwise processed material that is, or is derived from plants, lichens, algae or fungi. To allow the ongoing import of such goods under an import permit, MPI proposes to amend the IHS for Dried and Preserved Plant Material to include the items listed above.
The amendment will include:
- Expanding the scope of the IHS to include ‘fresh, dried or otherwise processed material that is, or is derived from plants, lichens, algae or fungi for the purpose of testing, analysis or research’.
- Amending section 3.6 of the IHS (Plant, Lichen, Algal and Fungal Material for Research Purposes) to specify requirements for the goods listed above.
A draft version of the amended IHS is available above, with main changes summarised as follows:
1. The name of the IHS will be changed to ‘Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material, and Fresh Plant Material for Testing, Analysis or Research’.
2. The scope of the IHS will be amended to state that ‘This import health standard also describes the phytosanitary requirements for the importation into New Zealand, or authorised movement of fresh, dried or otherwise processed material that is, or is derived from plants, lichens, algae or fungi for the purpose of testing, analysis or research’.
3. Section 3.6 of the IHS will be amended to identify specific requirements for ‘Seed’ and for ‘All other Plant, Lichen, Algal & Fungal Material for Research Purposes’ as follows:
3.1 A new section (Section 3.6.2, Seed for Laboratory Testing, Analysis or Research) will specify requirements for any seed imported for chemical or physical analysis.
Propagation or culturing of any seed samples imported under this section of the IHS is prohibited; importation of seed for propagation is covered under the IHS 155.02.05 Importation of Seed for Sowing.
Seed imported under this section of the IHS falls into two categories:
3.1.1 Species of seed listed as ‘Basic’ in the Plants Biosecurity Index.
- No import permit is required.
- All seed must be accompanied by a statement that ‘the seed is being imported for research purposes under section 3.6.2.1 of the import health standard for Dried and Preserved Plant Material, and Fresh Plant Material for Testing, Analysis or Research’.
- All seed will be inspected as specified in section 2.6 of the IHS.
3.1.2 All other species of seed (with a requirement other than ‘Basic’ in the Plants Biosecurity Index)
- An import permit is required
- Material will be directed to an appropriate transitional facility.
- MPI will identify any additional inspection, phytosanitary, treatment or HSNO requirements at the time of permit application.
3.2 A new section (Section 3.6.3, All other Plant, Lichen, Algal & Fungal Material for Research Purposes) will be added to specify requirements for any plant, lichen, algal & fungal material other than herbarium (section 3.6.1) or seed (section 3.6.2) specimens.
This will apply to fresh, frozen, dried, or otherwise processed material.An import permit will be required.MPI will identify any inspection, phytosanitary, treatment or HSNO requirements at the time of permit application.MPI will identify whether the material needs to be directed to a transitional facility.Propagation or culturing of any samples is prohibited.
4. Section 3.6.3 of the current IHS (3.6.3. Nucleic Acids) will be removed from the standard as nucleic acids are now covered by MPIs IHS for Biological Products from All Countries (bioprodic.all).
How to make a submission
Comments on the proposed amendment to the IHS should be forwarded to MPI by close of business on Thursday 11 September 2014. MPI encourages respondents to forward comments electronically. Send submissions to: plantimports@mpi.govt.nz.
However, should you wish to forward submissions in writing, please send them to the following address by close of business on Thursday 11 September 2014.
Plant Imports
Plants, Food & Environment
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Please make sure you include the following information in your submission:
- the title of this discussion document;
- your name and title;
- your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation); and
- your contact details (e.g. phone number, address and email).
Submissions received by the closure date will be considered for the final issue of the amended IHS. Submissions received after the closure date may be held on file for consideration when the issued standard is next revised/reviewed.
Please note that your submission is public information. Submissions may be the subject of requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA specifies that information is to be made available to requesters unless there are sufficient grounds for withholding it, as set out in the OIA. Submitters may wish to indicate grounds for withholding specific information contained in their submission, such as the information is commercially sensitive or they wish personal information to be withheld. Any decision to withhold information requested under the OIA is reviewable by the Ombudsman.
